KENOSHA, Wis. - The two teams picked to finish first and second in the CCIW Preseason Coaches Poll squared off Wednesday night in the conference-opener for both teams. Selected as the league's preseason favorite, Carroll defeated Carthage 5-3, getting an early leg up on the Firebirds in the conference standings.

Carthage (8-3, 0-1 CCIW) opened the scoring mid-way through the opening quarter when Piper LeFevre scored unassisted. Carroll (7-3, 1-0 CCIW) would tie the score in the final minutes of the period with a goal by Samantha Hurd. The Pios would take their first lead of the contest early in the second on a goal by Elizabeth Wang, which was assisted by Lauren Fricke. An Abby Tubbs goal would extend that lead to 3-1 at the half.

LeFevre's second goal of the day cut Carroll's lead in half five minutes into the second half, but Wang and Fricke both scored goals for the Pioneers later in the third quarter to give them some breathing room. LeFevre scored once more in the final quarter, but it was not enough to overcome that deficit.

Carroll out-shot Carthage by an 18-16 margin. The Pios were led by Wang's two goals, while also adding an assist. Fricke added one of each, while Grace Brockman also assisted on a goal, giving her a league-best 17 on the season.

Devon Duym played all 60 minutes at Goal Keeper, making seven saves in the win. Her counterpart, Xochitl Delvale-Vera also played the entire game between the pipes, recording three saves.

The Pioneers will try to keep things rolling on Saturday when they'll host Illinois Wesleyan. That game will begin at 1 p.m. at Schneider Stadium in Waukesha, Wis.